February 8 - True Worshippers (John 4:1-42)
Reflection Questions for Further Prayer and Discussion
Personal Reflection
- When was the last time worship genuinely changed you—not just informed you?
- Which comes more naturally to you: worshipping in truth or worshipping in spirit? Why do you think that is?
- Are there areas where you know about God but haven’t allowed the Spirit to transform your heart?
- In what ways have you experienced the “living water” of the Holy Spirit in your own life? Where do you feel spiritually dry?
Mountains, Traditions, and Preferences
- What are some of your personal “mountains” (traditions, preferences, experiences, theological positions) that shape how you approach worship? How might some of those mountains help you worship God more fully—and how might some distract you from Him?
- Have you ever found yourself judging others’ worship practices rather than asking whether both of you are worshipping in spirit and in truth?
- What would it look like for you to “make room” for God to shake up or re-order something you hold tightly?
Supporting Scriptures from the Sermon
Primary passage
John 4:1–42 – Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well
John 4:10, 21–24 – Living water; worship in spirit and truth
Living water & the Holy Spirit
John 7:37–39 – Rivers of living water; the Spirit given to believers
John 3:6–8 – Born of the Spirit
Role and work of the Holy Spirit
Romans 11:29 – God’s calling
Romans 8:2–4 – Life in the Spirit
Romans 8:14 – Led by the Spirit
Romans 8:26 – The Spirit helps us in weakness
John 14:15–17 – The Spirit dwelling in believers
John 14:26 – The Spirit teaches and reminds
Luke 24:45–49 – Empowered by the Spirit
Acts 13:2 – The Spirit speaks
1 Corinthians 6:11 – Sanctification by the Spirit
1 Corinthians 12:1–11 – Spiritual gifts
Galatians 5:16, 22–25 – Walking by the Spirit; fruit of the Spirit
The Heart of Worship
Matthew 15:8–9 – Honoring God with lips while hearts are far away
Old Testament background (Mount Gerizim & Worship History)
Deuteronomy 11:29; 27:12 – Blessings proclaimed on Mount Gerizim
Joshua 8:33 – Israel gathered at Mount Gerizim
Ezra 4:2–3 – Samaritan rejection during temple rebuilding
February 1 - Born Again (John 3:1-21)
Reflection Questions for Further Prayer & Discussion
Faith or Insurance Policy
- How would you describe the difference between saying the right words and genuinely believing?
More Than a Golden Ticket
- Do I tend to think of Christianity primarily as a way to secure heaven, or as a life meant to be transformed now?
- How has my understanding of eternal life shaped how I live today?
Repentance and Honesty
- How do I usually respond when confronted with my own sin—defensiveness, denial, or humility?
Forgiveness and Freedom
- Are there sins or failures I still carry guilt over, even though I believe God forgives?
The Work of the Holy Spirit
- What evidence of the Spirit’s work—new desires, peace, freedom, or changed habits—can I see in my life?
- If someone looked closely at my life, what signs might they see that point to the Spirit’s work?
January 25 - Radical Jesus (John 2:13-25)
Reflection Questions for Further Prayer & Discussion
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Where might I be tempted to confuse religious activity with genuine faith?
Are there ways I rely on rituals, church involvement, or spiritual language to quiet my conscience without allowing real heart change? -
How balanced is my faith between the vertical and the horizontal?
How well does my love for God (prayer, worship, belief) show up in my love for people (justice, mercy, generosity, forgiveness)? -
Who are “the least of these” in my life right now?
What would it look like to tangibly love and serve them in a way that reflects Jesus’ heart? -
What makes me angry—and does that anger reflect God’s heart or my own fears and preferences?
Is my anger leading me toward sacrificial love and action, or toward outrage, distance, and contempt? -
When I encounter people far from God, do I want them defeated or redeemed?
How does Jesus’ response to His enemies on the cross shape the way I respond to those who oppose or hurt me?
January 18 - Water into Wine (John 2:1-12)
Reflection Questions
Joy and Expectation
Where in your life have you been relying on “natural joys” (success, relationships, achievement, experience) to carry the weight of ultimate meaning? How has that gone?
When the Wine Runs Out
Can you identify a season when joy began to thin or fade—even though life looked full on the outside? What did that reveal about where your hope was anchored?
The Ordinary Places Jesus Shows Up
Jesus revealed his glory in an ordinary setting—a wedding. Where might Jesus be quietly at work in the ordinary spaces of your life right now?
The Sign and What It Reveals
John calls this miracle a sign. What does the sign at Cana reveal to you about who Jesus is—not just what he can do?
The Best Wine Saved for Last
Do you believe that life with Christ deepens over time rather than diminishes? How have you seen that to be true—or where do you struggle to believe it?
Joy Through the Cross
The joy Jesus offers comes through “the hour” he embraced—the cross. How does knowing that your joy is secured through Christ’s suffering shape the way you view hardship in your own life?
The Bridegroom’s Delight
Jesus is portrayed not only as Savior but as Bridegroom who delights in his people. How would your daily life change if you lived with a settled confidence that Christ truly delights in you?
Drinking from the Right Source
Where are you tempted to keep returning for joy that cannot last? What might it look like for you to “drink deeply” from the joy Jesus offers instead?
Supporting Scripture References
Primary Text
John 2:1–12 – The Wedding at Cana
Joy, Wine, and Celebration
Psalm 104:15 – Wine that gladdens the human heart
Judges 9:13 – Wine that cheers gods and men
Isaiah 55:1 – Invitation to freely receive wine and life
Psalm 16:11 – Fullness of joy in God’s presence
Jesus, Glory, and the Hour
John 2:11 – The first sign revealing Jesus’ glory
John 7:30; John 8:20 – “His hour had not yet come”
John 12:23 – “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified”
John 12:27–28 – Glory revealed through suffering
Joy Secured Through Christ
John 15:11 – Christ’s joy in us, joy made complete
Galatians 5:22 – Joy as fruit of the Spirit
Revelation 19:9 – The wedding supper of the Lamb
The Bridegroom Theme
Isaiah 62 – God rejoicing over his people as a bridegroom
Hosea 2 – Covenant love restored
Jeremiah 2 – God’s covenant relationship with Israel
Ezekiel 16 – God’s faithful love toward his bride
The Limits of Earthly Joy
Ecclesiastes 1:16–18 – Wisdom and striving as vanity
Psalm 92:12–15 – Lasting fruit and flourishing in old age
January 11 - Grace & Truth (John 1:14-18)
Reflection Questions
God’s Nearness and Holiness
How does the idea that God’s holiness is not annihilating but transformative change the way you approach Him personally?Grace That Transforms, Not Excuses
Where in your life do you need to experience grace that doesn’t just forgive, but actively transforms you?
Grace and Truth Together
Which do you find more difficult to live out—grace or truth?
Truth as a Person, Not Just a Principle
How might your conversations and relationships change if you remembered that truth is ultimately Jesus Himself, not merely correct doctrine?
Receiving “Grace Upon Grace”
Are there areas of your life where you are living as if God’s grace could run out? What would it look like to trust in His inexhaustible grace instead?
Self-Condemnation vs. God’s Verdict
If God does not remember your sins and does not condemn you, what is preventing you from fully resting in that truth?
Coming to Jesus as You Are
What burdens, guilt, or weariness do you need to bring honestly to Jesus right now, trusting both His grace and His truth?
Supporting Scripture References
God Dwelling With His People
John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and dwelt among us
Exodus 19:21–22 – Warning the people not to approach God’s holiness
Exodus 20:19 – “Do not let God speak to us, lest we die”
Exodus 40:34–35 – God’s glory filling the tabernacle
2 Chronicles 7:1–2 – God’s glory filling Solomon’s temple
God’s Presence Leaving and Returning
Ezekiel 10–11 – God’s glory departing the temple
Ezekiel 11:16–20 – God as a sanctuary for the exiles
Ezekiel 47:1–12 – River of life flowing from the temple
Jesus as the True Temple
John 2:19–21 – Jesus referring to His body as the temple
Colossians 2:9 – Fullness of deity dwelling bodily in Christ
Freedom from Condemnation
Hebrews 10:17 – God remembers sins no more
Romans 8:1 – No condemnation in Christ
1 John 3:19–20 – God greater than our condemning hearts
